After a car crash, you may be in pain and feeling overwhelmed by medical bills and car repairs. You may be unsure of how to pursue damages and recover some of your losses from the accident. You are not alone.
If a negligent driver caused your collision, you have the right to hold them responsible for their actions. The Lake Charles car accident attorneys at Morris Bart are here to help. We offer a free, no-obligation consultation. We are ready to step in and protect your rights after a car accident.
Compensation You May Seek After a Car Accident
If you were injured in a car wreck in Lake Charles, our legal team can assist you with an insurance claim or a personal injury lawsuit. You may be entitled to claim compensation for:
- Ambulance transport
- Hospital bills
- Prescription medication
- Physical therapy
- Mobility devices
- Property damage
- Loss of income while you recover
Punitive Damages
If the driver who caused your accident was drunk at the time of the collision, you may also be awarded punitive damages. These damages have no bearing on your financial losses and serve to deter drivers from repeating recklessly dangerous behavior.
What Is the Average Settlement for a Car Accident?
Every case will have different results. On average, car accident claims settle for between $14,000 and $28,000. This may not cover your treatment costs.
Severe injuries may warrant a larger settlement. For instance, we successfully recovered:
- $450,000 for a client who required lower back surgery after a car accident.
- $125,000 for a client who suffered a broken nose and facial injury after a car accident in Lake Charles.
Let us review your accident-related expenses to estimate the settlement you deserve.
Is It Worth Getting a Lawyer for a Minor Car Accident?
If you have a minor car accident, you may consider filing an insurance claim on your own. This is one option, but you should take advantage of the free consultation most law firms offer. Working with a lawyer can benefit your case in several ways.
At Morris Bart, our Lake Charles car accident attorneys can:
- Gather evidence
- Calculate the total cost of your losses
- Negotiate with the insurance company
Working with a lawyer increases your chances of receiving compensation for the fullest extent of your injuries. Our legal team can help you hold the liable party responsible for your losses.
Worried About the Cost of Hiring a Car Accident Lawyer?
Some law firms charge clients upfront or by the hour. Our Lake Charles car accident lawyers understand the financial strain this can put you under. That’s why we work on a contingency fee basis.
Our fee is paid by a percentage of your eventual settlement or court award. That means if we are not successful in your case, we do not get paid attorneys’ fees. In other words, you have nothing to lose.
For a free legal consultation with a Car Accident lawyer serving Lake Charles, call 800-537-8185
Why Choose Morris Bart After Your Louisiana Car Accident?
Our attorneys have experience handling cases like yours. We strive to get results for our clients, but we also aim to provide peace of mind during the legal process. We know that dealing with an injury and the aftermath of a car accident is hard, and we don’t want to be what makes it harder.
Here are some of the results we’ve been able to achieve for former clients:
- $852,000 for a car accident victim left with neck and back pain
- $650,000 for a client with many broken bones after an accident with a drunk driver
- $580,000 for a car accident victim who needed cervical disc replacement
While we fight for your financial recovery, we also fight for your future, your quality of life, and your opportunities.
Common Injuries After Car Accidents
Every year, about 3,000,000 people in the U.S. are injured in car crashes. Some of the most common injuries that occur in car accidents include:
Whiplash
This injury is extremely common in car accidents, particularly rear-end collisions. Car accident victims typically feel neck pain and stiffness, as well as a loss of range of motion. In more severe cases, they may experience ringing in the ears, difficulty concentrating, blurred vision, or even depression.
While it is important to see a doctor to rule out the possibility of broken bones or other damage that can cause your symptoms to worsen, the symptoms of whiplash typically go away after a few weeks. That said, some accident victims experience symptoms for months or even years.
Broken Bones
The severity of a broken bone depends on the amount of force that causes the damage. Lesser amounts of force may only crack the bones, while extreme force – like that you would experience in a high-speed collision – may cause the bone to shatter.
In more severe cases, the victim may experience an open fracture, where the fragments of bone break through the skin, causing extreme pain and bleeding.
Spinal Cord Injuries
This type of injury can make it difficult for you to walk, cause loss of bladder or bowel control, or cause pain or stiffness in the back or neck. The majority of people who suffer from spinal cord injuries require wheelchairs or other assistive devices to manage their mobility loss. In extreme cases, they may even be paralyzed below the injury.
Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs)
TBIs are caused by a blow or jolt to the head and are a major cause of death in the United States. People who survive these injuries may experience side effects that last a few days or permanent side effects related to emotional functioning, memory, vision, or hearing.
If you or someone you love has sustained injuries as a result of a car accident, you’ll want to seek immediate medical attention to determine the extent of your injuries. You also have the right to pursue damages for your injuries, and a car accident lawyer in Lake Charles can explain your options.
Click to contact our Lake Charles Personal Injury Lawyers today
Common Causes of Car Accidents in Lake Charles
You have a better chance of winning your case if you can prove the other driver caused the collision. Some common causes of car accidents in Lake Charles include:
Distracted Driving
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that distracted driving kills an average of nine people each day, injuring over 1,000. Distracted driving includes any activity that takes your focus away from driving, like talking to passengers, eating, or adjusting the radio.
However, the biggest culprit of distracted driving is cell phone use, which causes the driver to take their eyes and focus off the road, and their hands off the wheel.
Driving Under the Influence
This type of negligent behavior has been directly linked to reckless driving and fatal accidents. Drivers who operate a car under the influence of drugs or alcohol experience impaired:
- Perception
- Attention
- Coordination
- Balance
- Cognition
Drowsy Driving
Drowsy driving is a big problem in the U.S. The National Safety Council reports that driving after going without sleep for more than 20 hours is the equivalent of driving with a blood-alcohol level of 0.08%., the U.S. legal limit.
While it is hard to know how many accidents are actually caused by drowsy driving, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates about 100,000 accidents annually.
Reckless Driving
Reckless driving includes behaviors like tailgating, failing to obey stop signs or traffic signals, and excessive speeding. The NHTSA reports that speeding killed 11,258 people in 2020. Speeding creates a greater likelihood that a driver will lose control of their car and it causes more severe injuries when there is a crash.
Louisiana Laws that Might Impact Your Car Accident Claim
Working with a knowledgeable car accident attorney in Lake Charles will ensure that you are informed about important state laws that apply to your case. There are two Louisiana laws, specifically, that you should be aware of: the statute of limitations and comparative fault.
Statute of Limitations
Many states allow between two and five years for accident victims to pursue auto accident litigation after a traffic accident. In Louisiana, the statute of limitations says you must file your lawsuit within one year from the date of the accident. If you let this deadline pass, the courts could bar you from recovering damages.
Comparative Negligence
Comparative negligence is a tort rule in Louisiana law that allocates damages if the courts find multiple parties to be partially liable. This rule means that if you are 20% responsible for the accident, your compensation will be reduced by 20%.
Let a Lake Charles Car Accident Lawyer Review Your Case
If you were injured through no fault of your own, you shouldn’t have to shoulder the financial burden. Our law firm has over 40 years of experience helping accident victims. We won over 5,800 cases in 2021 alone.
To find out your options for recovering compensation after your collision, speak with a Lake Charles car accident attorney from Morris Bart. We’re available 24/7 to schedule your free case review.
Questions?Call 800-537-8185
to find a Morris Bart office near you.
